List of mayors of Ponce, Puerto Rico

This is a list of mayors of Ponce, Puerto Rico's southern economic center, the island's second largest^[1] and second most important city.^[2][3]

From 1692 to 1840, the office of mayor^[a] in Ponce was filled either by local hacendados or by military officers appointed by the governor, depending on whether the political situation on Spain at the time was that of a constitutional or an absolutist government.^[4] From 1840 to 1870, mayors were oftentimes elected by the municipal council, whose members were called regidores. In 1870, political parties were created for the first time and municipal officials were elected by the people at large, and the mayor, as well as the members of the municipal council, would belong to one of the two parties active, either the Partido Liberal Reformista or the Partido Incondicional Español.^[5] With the advent of the American political system in Puerto Rico after the American invasion of 1898, the mayor was elected by popular vote, which is the system still (2019) in place.

Ponce's first^[b] mayor was Don Pedro Sánchez de Mathos, in 1692, appointed by governor Juan Robles de Lorenzana. Ponce elected its first mayor (as well as its first Municipal Assembly) on 20 September 1812.^[6] Its first elected mayor was José Ortiz de la Renta, who took office in 1812. Ortiz de la Renta occupied the post of mayor on eight occasions between 1812 and 1846.

The mayor of Ponce is Luis Irizarry Pabón, elected in 2020, from the Partido Popular Democratico and who succeeded María "Mayita" Meléndez Altieri of the Partido Nuevo Progresista. Mayita had been the first woman elected to the office of mayor by the people of Ponce in its extensive political history. She was also the first mayor of a party other than the Popular Democratic Party in Ponce since 1989, when Rafael "Churumba" Cordero Santiago won the elections and took the oath of office that same year.

Current Mayor Luis Irizarry Pabon was discharged on November 1 2023 for Corruption charges, in succession, the Vice-Mayor Marlese Sifre was appointed to be the in charge of the municipality.

Throughout the centuries the Ponce municipal heads of government listed here as "mayors" may have held titles different from the modern title of "Mayor".^[c] Some of the other titles held were Teniente a guerra, Corregidor, Alcalde mayor, Alcalde ordinario, Justicia mayor, Alcalde constitucional, Alcalde en propiedad, Alcalde real ordinario, and Comandante militar. Regardless of the titles held, the people listed here were the maximum civil authority at the municipal level. In the lists that follow, "Alcalde" refers to the Spanish colonial position attained via election by the regidores (council members) of the municipal council, and refers to someone who had both judicial and administrative functions. "Mayor", on the other hand, refers to a local executive, elected by the people, with administrative functions only.

18th century

Source: Eduardo Neumann Gandía,^[7] Enciclopedia de Puerto Rico,^[8] and Neysa Rodríguez Deynes.^[9]

#	Name	In office	Position held	Political party[d]
1	Pedro Sánchez de Mathos	1692[10] – 1701[11]	Teniente a guerra[12]	N/A
2	Dámaso de Toro	1701[13] – 1706[14]	Teniente a guerra[15]	N/A
3	Aurelio Juan Ramírez de Arellano	1706[16] – 1710[17]	Teniente a guerra[18]	N/A
4	Joseph de Toro	1710[19] – ?	Teniente a guerra[20]	N/A
5	Francisco Ortíz de la Renta	1766	Teniente a guerra[21]	N/A

19th century

Sources: Eduardo Neumann Gandía,^[22] Enciclopedia de Puerto Rico,^[23] and Neysa Rodríguez Deynes.^[24]

#	Name	In office	Position held[25]	Political party[e]
6	José Benítez	1 January 1800 – 31 December 1811[26]	Teniente a guerra[27]	N/A
7	José Ortíz de la Renta[f]	1 January 1812 – 31 December 1813[28]	Alcalde constitucional	N/A
8	José de Toro[g]	1 January 1814 – 31 December 1814[29]	Teniente a guerra	N/A
9	José Ortíz de la Renta[h]	1 January 1815 – 2 January 1816[30]	Teniente a guerra	N/A
10	Alejandro Ordóñez	3 January 1816[31] – 31 December 1818[32]	Teniente justicia mayor	N/A
11	Juan Dávila	1 January 1819[33] – 31 December 1819[34]	Alcalde ordinario	N/A
12	Francisco Vassallo[i]	1 January 1820[35] – ca. 2 May 1820[36]	Comandante militar and alcalde[j]	N/A
13	Joaquín Martínez	ca. 2 May 1820[37] – ca. 3 June 1820[38]	Alcalde ordinario	N/A
14	José de Toro[k]	ca. 3 June 1820[39] – ? 1820	Alcalde ordinario	N/A
15	José Ortíz de la Renta[l]	? 1820 – 31 December 1820[40]	Alcalde constitucional	N/A
16	José Casimiro Ortíz de la Renta[m]	1 January 1821[41] – ?	Alcalde constitucional	N/A
17	Joaquín Tellechea	? 1821 – ? 1821	Alcalde constitucional (interim)	N/A
18	José Casimiro Ortíz de la Renta[n]	? 1821 – 31 December 1821	Alcalde constitucional	N/A
19	José Molina	1 January 1822[42] – ? 1822	Alcalde constitucional	N/A
20	José Mercado	? 1822 – 31 December 1822[43]	Alcalde constitucional (interim)	N/A
21	José Ortíz de la Renta[o]	1 January 1823[44] – 31 December 1825[45]	Alcalde propietario	N/A
22	Tomás Pérez Guerra	1 January 1826[46] – 31 December 1826[47]	Alcalde real ordinario	N/A
23	Julián Villodas	1 January 1827[48] – 31 December 1830[49]	Teniente a guerra	N/A
24	Tomás de Renovales	1 January 1831[50] – 31 December 1831[51]	Alcalde[52]	N/A
25	Francisco Vassallo[p]	1 January 1832 – 31 December 1832	Comandante militar and alcalde[q]	N/A
26	Antonio Toro	1 January 1833 – 31 December 1835	Alcalde[53]	N/A
27	Antonio Albizu	1 January 1836[54] – ? 1836[55]	Teniente alcalde[56]	N/A
28	Juan de Dios Conde[r]	? 1836[57][58] – 31 December 1836[59]	Alcalde	N/A
29	José Ortíz de la Renta[s]	1 January 1837[60] – 31 December 1837[61]	Alcalde	N/A
30	Patricio Colón	1 January 1838[62] – 31 December 1838[63]	Alcalde[64]	N/A
31	Juan de Dios Conde[t]	1 January 1839[65] – 31 December 1839[66]	Alcalde[67]	N/A
32	Salvador de Vives[u]	1 January 1840[68] – 5 January 1842[69]	Alcalde	N/A
33	José Ortíz de la Renta[v]	6 January 1842 – 31 December 1842	Alcalde	N/A
34	Juan Rondón	1 January 1843[70] – ? 1843[71]	Alcalde	N/A
35	José Ortíz de la Renta[w]	? 1843 - 31 December 1843	Propietario	N/A
36	Bonifacio Martínez de Baños[72]	1 January 1844 – 31 December 1844	Alcalde[73][x]	N/A
37	Salvador de Vives[y]	1 January 1844[74] – 24 November 1845[75]	Alcalde en propiedad	N/A
38	Antonio Corro[z]	25 November 1845[76] – 30 November(?) 1845	Alcalde (interim)	N/A
39	José Zaldo	1 December(?) 1845 – 31 December 1845[77]	Alcalde (interim)	N/A
40	Antonio Corro[aa]	1 January 1846[78] – 31 March 1846[79]	Alcalde (interim)	N/A
41	José Ortíz de la Renta[ab]	1 April 1846[80] – 30 June 1846[81]	Alcalde	N/A
42	José de Jesús Fernández	1 July 1846[82] – 31 December 1846[83]	Alcalde	N/A
43	David Laporte	1 January 1847[84] – 30 June 1847[85]	Alcalde	N/A
44	Francisco Romero[ac]	1 July 1847[86] – 31 August 1847[87]	Alcalde	N/A
45	Juan Lacot	1 September 1847[88] – 31 September 1848[89]	Alcalde	N/A
46	José María Quesada	1 October 1848 – 31 December 1848[90]	Alcalde	N/A
47	Juan Prats[ad]	1 January 1849[91] – 30 June 1849[92]	Alcalde	N/A
48	Esteban Vidal	1 July 1849[93] – 30 September 1849[94]	Alcalde	N/A
49	Juan Prats[ae]	1 October 1849[95] – 31 December 1849[96]	Alcalde	N/A
50	Flavius Dede	1 January 1850[97] – 31 March 1850[98]	Alcalde	N/A
51	Coronel Antonio Fortún[99]	1 April 1850[100] – 8 January 1851[101]	Corregidor	N/A
52	Manuel Cedeño de Poveda	9 January 1851[102] – 23 April 1851[103]	Corregidor	N/A
53	Guillermo Neumann	23 April 1851[104] – 30 September 1851[105]	Corregidor	N/A
54	Coronel Vicente Julbe	1 October 1851[106] – 14 February 1854[107]	Corregidor	N/A
55	Julio Duboc	14 February 1854(?) – 14 March 1854(?)[108]	Alcalde (interim)	N/A
56	Escolástico Fuentes	14 March 1854(?) – 14 April 1854(?)[109]	Alcalde (interim)	N/A
57	Pablo Manfredi	14 April 1854(?) – 14 May 1854(?)[110]	Alcalde (interim)	N/A
58	José Benito Paz Falcón	14 May 1854(?) – 14 June 1854(?)[111]	Alcalde (interim)	N/A
59	Antonio E. Molina	14 June 1854(?) – 23 July 1854(?)[112]	Alcalde (interim)	N/A
60	Coronel Félix O'Neill	24 July 1854 – 31 August 1856[113]	Comandante militar	N/A
61	Pedro Juan Capó	1 September 1856[114] – 31 December 1856[115]	Corregidor	N/A
62	Hilarión Pérez Guerra	1 January 1857[116] – 11 July 1863[117]	Corregidor	N/A
63	Coronel Luis de Quixano y Font	11 July 1863 – 23 June 1865[118]	Corregidor	N/A
64	Francisco Olazarra	23 June 1865[119] – 31 December 1865[120]	Corregidor	N/A
65	Francisco Carreras	1 January 1866 – 31 August 1866[121]	Corregidor	N/A
66	Francisco Romero[af]	1 September 1866[122] – 31 October 1866 (?)	Corregidor (interim)	N/A
67	Carlos Cabrera y Martínez	1 November 1866 (?) – 1 December 1866[123]	Corregidor (interim)	N/A
68	Coronel Enrique O'Neil	1 December 1866[124] – 21 January 1867[125]	Corregidor	N/A
69	Demetrio Santaella	21 January 1867[126] – 31 December 1868[127]	Corregidor	N/A
70	Coronel Elicio Berriz[ag]	1 January 1869 – 11 May 1870[128]	Comandante militar	N/A
71	Vicente Pérez Valdivieso	11 May 1870[129] – 27 July 1871[130]	Alcalde	-
72	Miguel Arribas	28 July 1871[131] – 31 December 1871[132]	Alcalde	-
73	Coronel Elicio Berriz[ah]	1 January 1872[133] – 31 January 1872 (?)	Comandante militar	-
74	Francisco Arce y Romero	1 February 1872 (?) – 28 February 1872 (?)	Corregidor (interim)	-
75	Alejandro Albizu	1 March 1872 (?) – 26 September 1872[134]	Corregidor (interim)	-
76	Juan Cortada y Quintana	27 September 1872[135] – 4 February 1874[136]	Alcalde popular	-
77	Pedro Rosalí	4 February 1874[137] – 5 May 1874[138]	Alcalde	-
78	Rafael León y García	5 May 1874[139] – 28 April 1875[140]	Alcalde	-
79	Coronel Serafín Donderis	28 April 1875[141] – 31 March 1876[142]	Alcalde	-
80	Juan José Cartagena[ai]	1 April 1876[143] – 4 July 1879[144]	Alcalde	-
81	Coronel Lucas Jiménez	4 July 1879[145] – 30 April 1880[146]	Alcalde	-
82	Coronel José Mirelis	1 May 1880[147] – 31 January 1881[148]	Alcalde delegado	-
83	Juan José Cartagena[aj]	1 February 1881[149] – 31 October 1881[150]	Alcalde	-
84	Andrés Caparrós y García	1 October 1881[151] – 28 September 1882[152]	Alcalde	-
85	Máximo de Meana y Guridi[153]	28 September 1882 – 31 May 1884[154]	Alcalde delegado	Incondicional Español[155]
86	Rafael de Zárate y Sequera	11 June 1884[156][ak] – 16 July 1886[157]	Alcalde	Incondicional Español[158]
87	Ramón Elices Montes	16 July 1886[159] – 31 May 1887[160]	Alcalde	Incondicional Español[161]
88	Ermelindo Salazar[162]	1 June 1887 – 10 July 1887	Alcalde	-
89	Fernando Diez de Ulzurrún y Somellera[note 1]	10 July 1887[163] – 4 January 1888[164]	Alcalde	Incondicional Español[165]
90	Juan de Ponte	5 January 1888[166] – 4 April 1888[167]	Alcalde	Incondicional Español[168]
91	Vicente de Soliveres y Miera	5 April 1888[169] – 19 March 1889[170][al]	Alcalde	Incondicional Español[171]
92	Miguel Rosich y Más[am]	8 May 1889[172] – 31 March 1890[173]	Alcalde	Liberal Reformista[174][an]
93	Carlos Eusebio de Ayo	12 April 1890[175] – 2 January 1893[176]	Alcalde	Incondicional Español[177]
94	Comandante José de Nouvilas de Vilar	3 January 1893[178] – 9 August 1894[179]	Comandante militar	Incondicional Español[180]
95	Eduardo Armstrong	10 August 1894[181] – 3 May 1895[182]	Alcalde	Liberal Reformista[183][ao]
96	Félix Saurí y Vivas	13 May 1895[184] – 11 July 1895[185]	Alcalde	Incondicional Español[186]
97	Juan José Potous	12 July 1895[187] – 10 May 1896[188]	Alcalde	Incondicional Español[189]
98	Comandante Luis Alvarado y González[190]	11 May 1896[191] – 28 March 1897[192]	Comandante militar	Incondicional Español[193]
99	Miguel Rosich y Más[ap]	29 March 1897[194] - 8 December 1897[195]	Alcalde	Liberal Reformista[196][aq]
100	Luis Gautier	9 December 1897[197] – 20 June 1898	Alcalde	-
101	Ulpiano Colóm	8 July 1898[198][199][ar] – 8 November 1898[200]	Alcalde	-
102	José Lloréns Echevarría	8 November 1898[201] – 10 November 1898[202]	Alcalde	-
103	Luis Porrata Doria	11 November 1898[203] – 12 September 1899	Alcalde	-
104	Major Albert L. Myer	12 September 1899 – 1899	Comandante militar	-

20th century

#	Name	In office	Position held	Political party
105	Pedro Juan Rosaly	23 December 1900 – 28 February 1901	Mayor	Republican[204][as]
106	José de Guzmán Benítez	28 February 1901 – 2 January 1902	Mayor	Republican[205][206][at]
107	Enrique Chevalier[207]	2 January 1902 – 2 January 1903	Mayor	Republican[208][au]
108	Antonio Arias	2 January 1903 – 1 January 1904	Mayor	Republican[av]
109	Manuel V. Domenech	2 January 1904 – 1 January 1905	Mayor	Republican[209][aw]
110	Luis P. Valdivieso	2 January 1905 – 1 January 1906	Mayor	Union[210][ax]
111	Santiago Oppenheimer	2 January 1906 – 1 January 1907	Mayor	Union[211][ay]
112	Simón Moret Gallart	2 January 1907 – 1 January 1915	Mayor	Union[212][az]
113	Rafael Rivera Esbrí	2 January 1915 – 1 January 1917	Mayor	Union[213][ba]
114	Luis Yordán Dávila	2 January 1917 – 1 January 1918	Mayor	Union[214][bb]
115	Rodulfo del Valle	2 January 1918 – 1 January 1921	Mayor	Union[215][bc]
116	Francisco Parra Capó	2 January 1921 – 1 January 1924	Mayor	Popular ("El Ligao")[216][bd]
117	Abelardo Aguilú, Jr.	2 January 1924 – 1 January 1925	Mayor	Popular ("El Ligao")[217][be]
118	Guillermo Vivas Valdivieso	2 January 1925 – 2 January 1929	Mayor	Alianza[218][bf]
119	Emilio Fagot	2 January 1929 – 2 January 1933	Mayor	Republican[bg]
120	Blas Oliveras	2 January 1933 – 2 January 1937	Mayor	Republican[bh]
121	José Tormos Diego	2 January 1937 – 2 January 1941	Mayor	Republican[bi]
122	Andrés Grillasca Salas	2 January 1941 – 9 May 1956[219][220]	Mayor	PPD[221][222]
123	José Dapena Laguna	9 November 1956[223][224] – 1 January 1957	Mayor	PPD[225]
124	Carlos Juan Cintrón	2 January 1957 – 2 January 1961	Mayor	PPD[226]
125	Juan Luis Boscio	2 January 1961 – 2 January 1965	Mayor	PPD[227]
126	Eduardo Ruberté Bisó	2 January 1965 – 2 January 1969	Mayor	PPD[228]
127	Juan H. Cintrón García	2 January 1969 – 2 January 1973[229]	Mayor	PNP[230]
128	Luis A. Morales	2 January 1973 – 2 January 1977	Mayor	PPD[231]
129	José G. Tormos Vega	2 January 1977 – 22 February 1984[232]	Mayor	PNP[233]
130	José Dapena Thompson	22 February 1984[234] – ?? October 1988[235]	Mayor	PNP[236]
131	Iván Ayala Cádiz	December 1988 – 2 January 1989[237]	Mayor	PNP[238]
132	Rafael Cordero Santiago	2 January 1989 – 2 January 2000	Mayor	PPD[239]

21st century

#	Name	In office	Position held	Political party
132	Rafael Cordero Santiago	2 January 2000 – 17 January 2004	Mayor	PPD[240]
133	Delis Castillo Rivera de Santiago	17 January 2004 – 2 January 2005	Mayor (Interim)	PPD[241]
134	Francisco Zayas Seijo	2 January 2005 – 2 January 2009	Mayor	PPD[242]
135	Maria "Mayita" Meléndez Altieri	12 January 2009 – 11 January 2021	Mayor	PNP[243]
136	Luis Manuel Irizarry Pabón	11 January 2021 – 2 November 2023[244][bj]	Mayor	PPD[245]
137	Marlese Sifre Rodríguez	2 November 2023[246] – present	Mayor	PPD[247]

Other mayors

Following is a list of other Ponce mayors according to Enciclopedia Puerto Rico but which are not accounted for in the 1913 historical account by Eduardo Neumann Gandía, Verdadera y Auténtica Historia de la Ciudad de Ponce: Desde sus Primitivos Tiempos hasta la Época Contemporánea. Source: Enciclopedia de Puerto Rico.^[248] Some of the names in this list (such as Tomás de Renovales, Francisco Vassallo and Antonio Toro) are listed in Neumann's book, but not for the additional time periods indicated in Enciclopedia Puerto Rico (and, thus, in the table that follows). The positions held are all generically listed as "Alcalde" as a placeholder; but, at least for some of them, based on the time periods Enciclopedia Puerto Rico states they served, likely held a title other than "Alcalde".

#	Name	In office	Position held	Political party
A	Juan A. Ramírez de Arellano	1692	Alcalde	N/A
B	Tomás de Renovales	1831	Alcalde	N/A
C	Francisco Vassallo	1832	Alcalde	N/A
D	Antonio Toro	1833	Alcalde	N/A
D	Bonifacio Martínez de Baños	1844	Alcalde	N/A
E	Guillermo Oppenheimer[bk]	1852	Alcalde	N/A
F	Miguel Luchetti	1852	Alcalde	N/A
G	Pedro de Oña y García	1853	Alcalde	N/A
H	José Pelligero de Lama	1853	Alcalde	N/A
I	Eugenio López-Bustamante	1854	Alcalde	N/A
J	Leonardo de Campos	1866	Alcalde	N/A
K	Pedro Diz-Romero	1866	Alcalde	N/A
L	Francisco Arce y Romero	1867	Alcalde	N/A
M	Nicasio de Navascués y Asia	1868	Alcalde	N/A
N	Jacobo de Araoz y Balmaceda	1868	Alcalde	N/A
O	Recaredo Canejo y Custodio	1869	Alcalde	N/A
P	Manuel Vidal y González	1871	Alcalde	-
Q	Inocencio Vallenilla	1872	Alcalde	-
R	Manuel Vidal y González	1873	Alcalde	-
S	Teodoro Capó	1873	Alcalde	-
T	Juan Germán-Prats	1874	Alcalde	-
U	Rosendo Aquíles-Colón	1880	Alcalde	-
V	Ermelindo Salazar	1880	Alcalde	-
W	Rosendo Aquíles-Colón	1881	Alcalde	-
X	Salvador de Vives	1883	Alcalde	-
Y	Juan Mayoral	1883	Alcalde	-
Z	Ángel Fernández	1893	Alcalde	-
AA	Félix Saurí Vivas	1893	Alcalde	-
AB	Angel Fernández	1897	Alcalde	-
AC	Félix Saurí y Vivas	1897	Alcalde	-
AD	Luis Porrata-Doría	1897	Alcalde	-

Pre-1692 mayors

Historians Eli D. Oquendo Rodriguez (De Criadero a Partido: Ojeada a la historia de los orígenes de Ponce, 1645-1810. 2015. p. 31.) and Francisco Lluch Mora (Orígenes y Fundación de Ponce. 2006, p. 101.) allude to various other Ponce municipal magistrates in the years preceding 1692. Among them are Juan de Quiñones (Lluch Mora), and Juan Quiñones, Pedro Sanchez, Juan Joseph Ortiz, and Andres Martinez de Quiñones (Oquendo Rodriguez).

See also

• Puerto Rico portal
• Politics portal

• Timeline of Ponce, Puerto Rico
• Mayoralty in Puerto Rico
• Cabildo
• Cabildo insular
• Corregimiento
• Tierra Firme
• Spanish military cultural legacy

Notes

1. Socorro Girón (1992) spells Fernando Diez de Ulzurrún y Somellera's name differently ("Fernando Díez de Ulzurrum y Somellers", note the 3 differences, not just one), in "Ponce, el teatro La Perla y La Campana de la Almudaina", page 231. However, Eduardo Neumann Gandía (1913), in "Verdadera y Auténtica Historia de la Ciudad de Ponce" page 279, spells it "Fernando Diez de Ulzurrum y Somellera" (note the 2 differences, not just one). In this article, it is spelled consistent with the spelling found in the oldest source available, Felix Pubill's La Administración Municipal de Ponce. (1900).

Footnotes

1. The maximum civil authority in Ponce was not always called "mayor" (or, more precisely, Alcalde). Different names were used including Teniente a guerra, Corregidor, Alcalde mayor, Alcalde ordinario, Justicia mayor, Alcalde constitucional, Alcalde en propiedad, Alcalde real ordinario, and Comandante militar.
2. In 2017, Eli D. Oquendo Rodríguez published the findings of his research about Ponce mayors in the period between 1600 and 1799. He states that Pedro Sanchez de Mathos was, in fact, not the first mayor of Ponce and that he may have been mayor much earlier than the 1692 date usually attributed him. Oquendo Rodríguez states that Ponce had at least three other mayors during this period: Don Pedro Martin Rodríguez Valverde (1683-1692), Don Pedro Rodríguez Guzman (1692-1748), and Don Pedro Rodríguez Pacheco (1748-1752). In addition, Don Phelipe de Santiago Pagan (1680, and 1687-1688) and Don Alberto de Rivera y Quiñones [Capitan a Guerra] (1690-1691) were mayors on an interim basis. See Eli D. Oquendo Rodríguez . De Criadero a Partido: Ojeada de la Historia de los Origenes de Ponce, 1645-1810. First Edition. Lajas, Puerto Rico: Centro de Estudios e Investigaciones del Sur Oeste (CEISO). Editorial Akelarre. 2015. ISBN 1516895487. Pages 102-105.
3. Titles differed not only due to changing political conditions in Spain (e.g., constitutional vs. non-constitutional governments) but also due to the manner how the person came to hold the position (e.g., appointed by the King or by the Provincial Governor vs. elected by the municipal council or municipal assembly or the political party vs. elected by the people at large).
4. There were no political parties in Puerto Rico until 1870. See, Socorro Giron. Ramon Marin y su Tiempo. In, Ramon Marin's Las Fiestas Populares de Ponce. Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico. 1994. p. 16.
5. There were no political parties in Puerto Rico until 1870. See, Socorro Giron. Ramon Marin y su Tiempo. In, Ramon Marin's Las Fiestas Populares de Ponce. Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico. 1994. p. 16.
6. José Ortíz de la Renta was also Mayor #9, #15, #21, #29, #33, #35, and #41
7. José de Toro was also Mayor #14
8. José Ortíz de la Renta was also Mayor #7, #15, #21, #29, #33, #35, and #41
9. Francisco Vassallo was also Mayor #25
10. According to Eduardo Neumann Gandia, Francisco Vassallo performed as "Comandante militar and Alcalde" from 1 January 1820 to ca. 2 May 1820.
11. José de Toro was also Mayor #8
12. José Ortíz de la Renta was also Mayor #7, #9, #21, #29, #33, #35, and #41
13. José Casimiro Ortíz de la Renta was also Mayor #18
14. José Casimiro Ortíz de la Renta was also Mayor #16
15. José Ortíz de la Renta was also Mayor #7, #9, #15, #29, #33, #35, and #41
16. Francisco Vassallo was also Mayor #12
17. According to Eduardo Neumann Gandia, Francisco Vassallo performed as "Comandante militar and Alcalde" from 1 January 1820 to ca. 2 May 1820.
18. Juan de Dios Conde was also Mayor #31
19. José Ortíz de la Renta was also Mayor #7, #9, #15, #21, #33, #35, and #41
20. Juan de Dios Conde was also Mayor #28
21. Salvador de Vives was also Mayor #37
22. José Ortíz de la Renta was also Mayor #7, #9, #15, #21, #29, #35, and #41
23. José Ortíz de la Renta was also Mayor #7, #9, #15, #21, #29, #33, and #41
24. La Gaceta de Puerto Rico uses the term "Alcalde mayor" for Bonifacio Martínez de Baños, which may have been a way of differentiating him from the then-existing alcaldes de barrio (community mayors)
25. Salvador de Vives was also Mayor #32
26. Antonio Corro was also Mayor #40
27. Antonio Corro was also Mayor #38
28. José Ortíz de la Renta was also Mayor #7, #9, #15, #21, #29, #33, and #35
29. Francisco Romero was also Mayor #66
30. Juan Prats was also Mayor #49
31. Juan Prats was also Mayor #47
32. Francisco Romero was also Mayor #44
33. Elicio Berriz was also Mayor #73
34. Elicio Berriz was also Mayor #70
35. Juan José Cartagena was also Mayor #83
36. Juan José Cartagena was also Mayor #80
37. There was an apparent gap in mayoral service between Meana y Guridi leaving the mayor's office and De Zárate y Sequera taking over
38. There is an apparent gap in mayoral service from Vicente de Solivares y Miera's leaving office on 19 March 1889 and Miguel Rosich y Más taking office on 8 May 1889
39. Miguel Rosich y Más was also Mayor #99
40. Félix Pubill (La Administración Municipal de Ponce, p. 1) calls Rosich y Mas "primer alcalde popular" (first popular mayor) and states (p. 47) the opposition, represented by incoming governor Lasso and mayor Ayo, was the "Partido Incondicional [Español]". Since there were only two political parties at the time, the conclusion is that by "first alcalde popular" he actually means first alcalde from the Partido Liberal Reformista.
41. Félix Pubill (La Administración Municipal de Ponce, p. 1) calls Rosich y Mas "primer alcalde popular" (first popular mayor) and states (p. 47) the opposition, represented by incoming governor Lasso and mayor Ayo, was the "Partido Incondicional [Español]." Since there were only two political parties at the time, the conclusion is that by "primer alcalde popular" he actually meant first alcalde from the Partido Liberal Reformista.
42. Miguel Rosich y Más was also Mayor #92
43. Félix Pubill (La Administración Municipal de Ponce, p. 1) calls Rosich y Mas "primer alcalde popular" (first popular mayor) and states (p. 47) the opposition, represented by incoming governor Lasso and mayor Ayo, was the "Partido Incondicional [Español]". Since there were only two political parties at the time, the conclusion is that by "first alcalde popular" he actually means first alcalde from the Partido Liberal Reformista.
44. There is an apparent break in mayoral service from Luis Gautier's mayoral term termination on 20 June 1898 to Ulpiano Colom's mayoral start on 8 July 1898
45. Note: In his Estadísticas de las Elecciones Municipales de Puerto Rico (1900-1988), (Comisión Estatal de Elecciones. Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. 1992), page 120, Fernando Bayron Toro, shows the 1900 Ponce municipal elections (a.k.a., "Elecciones de los 100 días", the 100 days elections) were won by the Partido Republicano Puertorriqueño with the 65.1% of votes cast, and the 1900 regular municipal elections were won by the PRP with 99.9% of the votes cast.
46. Note: In his Estadísticas de las Elecciones Municipales de Puerto Rico (1900-1988), (Comisión Estatal de Elecciones. Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. 1992), page 120), Fernando Bayron Toro, shows the 1900 Ponce municipal elections (a.k.a., "Elecciones de los 100 días", the 100 days elections) were won by the Partido Republicano Puertorriqueño with the 65.1% of votes cast, and the 1900 regular municipal elections were won by the PRP with 99.9% of the votes cast.
47. Note: In his Estadísticas de las Elecciones Municipales de Puerto Rico (1900-1988), (Comisión Estatal de Elecciones. Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. 1992), page 120), Fernando Bayron Toro, shows the 1900 Ponce municipal elections were won by the Partido Republicano Puertorriqueño with the 99.9% of votes cast.
48. Note: In his Estadísticas de las Elecciones Municipales de Puerto Rico (1900-1988), (Comisión Estatal de Elecciones. Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. 1992), page 120), Fernando Bayron Toro, shows the 1902 Ponce municipal elections were won by the Partido Republicano Puertorriqueño with the 59.1% of votes cast.
49. Note: In his Estadísticas de las Elecciones Municipales de Puerto Rico (1900-1988), (Comisión Estatal de Elecciones. Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. 1992.), page 120), Fernando Bayron Toro, shows the 1902 Ponce municipal elections were won by the Partido Republicano Puertorriqueño with the 59.1% of votes cast.
50. Note: Historian Eli D. Oquendo-Rodríguez categorically states Valdiveso was a Republican (See, Eli D. Oquendo-Rodríguez. Pablo L. Crespo-Vargas, editor. A Orillas del Mar Caribe: Boceto histórico de la Playa de Ponce - Desde sus primeros habitantes hasta principios del siglo XX. First edition. June 2017. Editorial Akelarre. Centro de Estudios e Investigaciones del Sur Oeste de Puerto Rico (CEISCO). Lajas, Puerto Rico. Page 226. ISBN 978-1547284931.), which appears to be an error since political historian Fernando Bayron Toro, shows the 1904 Ponce municipal elections (which led to the 1905 mayoral term) were won by the Union Party, which received 60.9% of votes cast.
51. Note: In his Estadísticas de las Elecciones Municipales de Puerto Rico (1900-1988), (Comisión Estatal de Elecciones. Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. 1992.), page 120), Fernando Bayron Toro, shows the 1904 Ponce municipal elections were won by the Union of Puerto Rico party with the 60.9% of votes cast.
52. Note: In his Estadísticas de las Elecciones Municipales de Puerto Rico (1900-1988), (Comisión Estatal de Elecciones. Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. 1992.), page 120), Fernando Bayron Toro, shows the 1906, 1908, 1910, and 1912 Ponce municipal elections were won by Union of Puerto Rico party with the 65.7%, 65.3%, 63.6%, and 64.1% of votes cast, respectively. The 1914 elections were also won by the Union Party with 49.9% of the votes cast vs. Partido Republicano Puertorriqueño's 46.6% of votes.
53. Note: In his Estadísticas de las Elecciones Municipales de Puerto Rico (1900-1988), (Comisión Estatal de Elecciones. Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. 1992.), page 120), Fernando Bayron Toro, shows the 1914 Ponce municipal elections were won by the Union Party with 49.9% of the votes cast vs. Partido Republicano Puertorriqueño's 46.6% of votes.
54. Note: In his Estadísticas de las Elecciones Municipales de Puerto Rico (1900-1988), (Comisión Estatal de Elecciones. Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. 1992.), page 120), Fernando Bayron Toro, shows the 1914 Ponce municipal elections were won by the Union Party with 49.9% of the votes cast vs. Partido Republicano Puertorriqueño's 46.6% of votes.
55. In his Estadísticas del las Elecciones Municipales de Puerto Rico (1900-1988), (Comisión Estatal de Elecciones. Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. 1992), page 120), Fernando Bayron Toro, shows the 1917 Ponce municipal elections were won by the Union of Puerto Rico party with 50.9% of votes cast.
56. In his Estadísticas del las Elecciones Municipales de Puerto Rico (1900-1988), (Comisión Estatal de Elecciones. Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. 1992), page 120), Fernando Bayron Toro, shows the 1920 Ponce municipal elections were won by the Union of Puerto Rico party with 44.6% of votes cast vs 29.5% of votes cast for the Partido Republicano Puertorriqueño.
57. In his Estadísticas del las Elecciones Municipales de Puerto Rico (1900-1988), (Comisión Estatal de Elecciones. Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. 1992), page 120), Fernando Bayron Toro, shows the 1924 Ponce municipal elections were won by the Alianza Puertorriqueña party with 62.8% of votes cast vs 17.9% of votes cast for the Partido Socialista de Puerto Rico and 13.9% for Partido Republicano Puertorriqueño.
58. In his Estadísticas del las Elecciones Municipales de Puerto Rico (1900-1988), (Comisión Estatal de Elecciones. Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. 1992), page 120), Fernando Bayron Toro, shows the 1924 Ponce municipal elections were won by the Alianza Puertorriqueña party with 62.8% of votes cast vs 17.9% of votes cast for the Partido Socialista de Puerto Rico and 13.9% for Partido Republicano Puertorriqueño.
59. In his Estadísticas del las Elecciones Municipales de Puerto Rico (1900-1988), (Comisión Estatal de Elecciones. Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. 1992), page 120), Fernando Bayron Toro, shows the 1928 Ponce municipal elections were won by the Partido Republicano Puertorriqueño with the 59.5% of votes cast.
60. In his Estadísticas del las Elecciones Municipales de Puerto Rico (1900-1988), (Comisión Estatal de Elecciones. Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. 1992), page 120), Fernando Bayron Toro, shows the 1932 Ponce municipal elections were won by the Partido Republicano Puertorriqueño with the 51.5% of votes cast.
61. In his Estadísticas del las Elecciones Municipales de Puerto Rico (1900-1988), (Comisión Estatal de Elecciones. Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. 1992), page 120), Fernando Bayron Toro, shows the 1936 Ponce municipal elections were won by the Partido Republicano Puertorriqueño with the 52.4% of votes cast.
62. Irizarry Pabón was suspended from his mayoral role on 2 November 2023 by the president of the PPD political party, Jesús Manuel Ortiz, after Irizarry Pabón was accused of corruption by Puerto Rico's Panel del Fiscal Especial Independiente (Special Independent Prosecutor's Panel) (See Tribunal Apelativo confirma suspensión de Luis Irizarry Pabón como alcalde de Ponce: Luis Irizarry Pabón acudió al Foro para apelar la determinación del PFEI de suspenderlo de sus funciones. Metro Puerto Rico. 15 November 2023. Accessed 19 April 2024. Archived.) and a hearing judge in Ponce issued a bench warrant for his arrest on 31 October 2023. (See Causa para arresto contra alcalde de Ponce: Contra el alcalde se presentaron cuatro cargos por parte del PFEI. Metro Puerto Rico. 31 October 2023. Accessed 19 April 2024. Archived.) The PFEI had acted upon the April 2023 recommendation of the Puerto Rico Department of Justice. (See Causa para arresto contra alcalde de Ponce: Contra el alcalde se presentaron cuatro cargos por parte del PFEI. Metro Puerto Rico. 31 October 2023. Accessed 19 April 2024. Archived.)
63. Citing Archivo General de Puerto Rico (AGPR, Protocolos Notariales-Ponce, Leonardo Morel, 1833, Vol. 1, ff. 135-135v) and Archivo Histórico de Ponce (c. 52-A, leg. 54, exp. 1. Padrón de Población, 1838), Francisco Antonio Scarano states Guillermo G. Oppenheimer was born in Germany and came to Puerto Rico from the United States. See "Sugar and slavery in Puerto Rico: the municipality of Ponce, 1815-1849." Appendix A: "On the National Origin of the Hacendados." page 445. Ph. D. Thesis. Columbia University. 1978.